The key lesson that I have learned in recent years about prayer is this, in order to sustain a heart for prayer, and in order to sustain a movement of prayer in a church or in a city, you have to talk about something

else besides prayer first. And I'm going to talk about two things besides prayer first. I want to tell you

what these are and then move into the third and final point which would

be the awesome place of prayer.

The first thing that I have found that I need to think about and talk about in my own heart and in my church is

war.

The life is war. I don't think it's possible for people to even know what prayer is

until they know that life is war and that the stakes are higher than in the Persian Gulf and in the consultations between Reagan and Gorbachev

and there is no peace till Jesus comes.

The second thing that I have had to think about and talk about before I can get to

first base in creating an atmosphere for prayer or have strength to sustain prayer is the

sovereignty of God. Because until we grasp the sovereignty of God, we don't know whether we're going to win the war.

And if you're not sure you're going to win the war, you cannot sustain the strength to pray day and night the way Jesus calls us to pray.

You can't pray long without hope and you can't have hope without the sovereignty of God.

And then my third point will be once you've understood that life is war, once you've understood the sovereignty of God assuring the victory,

what is the place of prayer in the global purposes of God.

So that's my outline and I would just like to

continue for another 30 seconds or so that great murmuring of prayer as I lead you and ask the Lord's help. Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, Satan, and all his power is very much against what we're about to say.

And therefore, a lot of demonic activity is very likely in this room unless in

answer to the prayers of this your people you would mightily banish

Demons and Satan and all the powers of darkness from our presence.

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